Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-02-18
A MYSTERIOUS LOVE EPISODE.

"You mean, then, Trevor, that you
have the serious intention of marrying
this Miss Craigie?"
II don't think, Cousin Barbara, that
I ever mentioned the word marriage;
before I speak of such q thing must
first discover if sweet Madge Craigie
loves me-"
"Sweet Madge Craigie, indeed Fan
cy calling her sweet! Commend me to
man for being taken in by pair of
bright eyes aud silly giggle! No man
ever knew yet who was his truest friend
Miss Craigie isn't yours"
my dear cousin, you are prejudiced.
Madge has lived great deal abroad,
and acquired manners which I will &C
knowledge do not exactly resemble
those you are acoustic med to see every
day; but she is none the less true and
loyal and womanly on tllat account,
while she is certainly ten times more
fascinating than most of the people one
meets"
"Humph!" growled Cousin Barbara
Well, those who live the longest will
see the most
Then there was silence, Trevor Lane,
who was an artist, went on with his
painting, and the middle aged spinster
he called Cousin Barbara sewed her
white seam with much diligence as she
sat in the sunlight on an old settle by
the window.
Cross gained though Barbara was,
there was one being she loved with
deep, fervent devotion, and that being
was Trevor Lane. And so she ought,
for he had been the kindest Of friends
to her. Lett at the age Of fifty without
a sixpence, Trevor Lane. who was only
her second cousin, had invited her to
come and live with him and manage
his house for him. This for the last five
years she had done right Conscientious
ly, both as regards housekeeping and
the giving Of such good advice as she
considered young man required.
Trevor Lane accepted both services
Fiction Of constant advice with so much
resignation, even cheerfulness, that he
proved himself to be thoroughly good
tempered fellow.
The fact was he was truly sorry for
his cousin Barbara, who had, he con-
sidered, been sourcd by bad treatment
in the past; and, though it WAS no fault
of his, yet he was resolved if possible
to make her life fair and happy in the
future. Hence every cross he answered
with caress, every recommendation
that he should alter his ways with a
promise that he would be circumspoct.
And so five years had dawdled on,
and the summer ut Henthfeld, about
ten miles from London, where Trevor
Lanes studio and pretty home were sit
mated, came md went with but few in
cidents to disturb the current OF the
cousins ways-till Madge Craigie came.
This was the evil day for which Cous-
in Barbara had never ceased to look
the day on which Trevor Lano would
elect to devote to another some portion
of the love she wished to appropriate
wholly to herself.
"Trevor was not yet thirty, how
could she expect it to be otherwise ?"
she would ask herself, repeatedly
Then she would shake her head and
mutter: eff could only like her; but
this Madge, this Eighty, silly Madge-
to marry my Trevor! All, met" Cous~
in Barbara failed utterly to recognize
that whoever the girl was ON whom
Trevor bestowed his affection, she
would consider her Objectionable and
displeasing.
For long while there was no sound
heard in the studio save the flies buzz
ling on the window panes anu the old
clock ticking on the mantelshelf. Ire
yor himself at last broke the silence.
"Madge is coming here this evening,
Cousin Barbara--you will be civil to
her for nv sake will you not?"
Miss Barbara looked up suddenly and
saw the light of love in Trevor's flash
ing eyes, the glow of deep passion on
his handsome face, and the sight of it
seemed to chill her heart to ice.
She answered coldly: Miss Craigie
wants no warm words from me; since
you can utter them so glibly it is enough ;
but for the last time l say-beware.
ately at his picture; and Miss Barbara
budding up the white work on which
she was engaged into bundle. escaped
with it into her own apartment.
When this scene took place the after
noon was already pretty far advanced,
and the month being May, it was not
very late when the sun finally departed
behind the western hills. Trevor could
no longer see to paint, but he fingered
on in the studio, gazing dreamily at his
picture till it was nearly dark.
At last he shook himself back into
reality md raising some portieres which
divided the studio from the dwelling
room in which he and Barbara usually
sat, he went in. sturck match and
lighted lamp which stood on his own
particular writing table.
i wonder il she will come-I almost
hope she viii not. Till this prejudice
Of cousin Bab's is overruled must try
andkeep her from the house. Iwould
mot for worlds that she should know
that Bah has taken fancies into her head
about her." IS. s..s I. III. +.
T And, hall murmuring his thoughts
aloud, he proceeded to answer two 81
three business letters which had ar
rived during the day. One Of them
neceSsitated reference % some old pa
4 pers, and, taking = key from his pocket,
he unlocked the side drawer Of his table
and began to look for the documents IS
required. 1861
so.absorbed W. he II his aea<ch. q